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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

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320 OBITUARY.his former labours, <strong>and</strong> lent voluntary assistance in carryingon <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Department, until his rapidlydeteriorating health compelled him to withdraw a secondtime.Even before his first retirement he had made a name asa writer on historical subjects. <strong>The</strong> Mariage de Convenance,published in 1889, was <strong>the</strong> first <strong>of</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> remarkablenovels which gained him a great reputation among thosewho care for thoughtful fiction. In poetry also (his lastvolume was one <strong>of</strong> verse, entitled Religious Hours) <strong>and</strong> inphilosophy Keary's name on a title-page always meantrefined, scholarly work.In a sense it may be said that he had no passion for<strong>numismatic</strong>s his ; sympathies lay ra<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> direction <strong>of</strong>a broader treatment than is usually possible with a subjectfilled with such minute detail as coins. It is just thisbroader view which gives value to his two most originalmonographs, on <strong>the</strong> Coinages <strong>of</strong> Western Europe, from<strong>the</strong> Fall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Western Empire till <strong>the</strong> Accession <strong>of</strong>Charlemagne, <strong>and</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Morphology <strong>of</strong> Coins. It is worthy<strong>of</strong> record that he was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first, if not <strong>the</strong> first, in thiscountry to take more than a mere collector's interest inItalian Medals, his little Guide to <strong>the</strong> exhibition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>semedals in <strong>the</strong> British Museum being, I believe, <strong>the</strong> firstserious attempt to deal with <strong>the</strong> subject in <strong>the</strong> Englishlanguage. Much has been changed in matters <strong>of</strong> attributionsince that Guide was published, but <strong>the</strong> broad lines remain<strong>the</strong> same, <strong>and</strong> Keary's notes on <strong>the</strong> historical interest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Kenaissance Medals are still very useful to <strong>the</strong> student.Those who knew Keary personally will not soon cease tomiss him. He was a discriminating <strong>and</strong> sensitive critic,a hater <strong>of</strong> stupidity, pretentiousness, or intellectual unconscientiousnessin all forms ;<strong>and</strong> his conversation was alwaysa delight, however much one might disagree with him,because <strong>of</strong> his evident sincerity <strong>and</strong> desire to get below <strong>the</strong>surface <strong>of</strong> things.A list <strong>of</strong> his <strong>numismatic</strong> publications (excluding anonymousreviews, &c.) follows (unless o<strong>the</strong>rwise stated <strong>the</strong>y appearedin <strong>the</strong> Numismatic Chronicle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year mentioned).1874. On <strong>the</strong> Coins <strong>of</strong> E<strong>the</strong>lred, King <strong>of</strong> Northumbria.1875. Note on <strong>the</strong> Ashantee <strong>and</strong> Best-Shot Medals.1875. Art on <strong>the</strong> Coins <strong>of</strong> Offa.1877. Notes on Finds <strong>of</strong> Coins.1877. Discovery <strong>of</strong> Coins <strong>of</strong> William I <strong>and</strong> II atTamworth.

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